TalktoCanada.com» Jillian Zavitz

ABC’s of Small Talk–C

Jillian Zavitz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:08:54 +0000

C is for common, usually people get along because they have common interests, attitudes, or simply put they have things in common. For example, in a grocery store while queuing up to the cashier , you can try to make a not-so-obvious quick scan at the things the person behind you bought. You notice that you have the same stuff with the person behind you. You can start by saying You’re buying that too? or that’s really delicious (if it has something to do with food, obviously) You just don’t know maybe you’ll end up exchanging recipes.

C is also for compliments. Example: That’s a nice shirt your wearing. Make them feel good about themselves. Start with telling them they look nice, or that they are funny. That will put them in a good mood which will make your conversation nicer and easier.

ABC’s of Small Talk–B

Jillian Zavitz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:08:08 +0000

B- basketball Lakers or Celtics? That alone stirs up a conversation especially for men.

Basketball is a very interesting topic. They could go on and on talking about it for hours.

Here are some examples you can use to start conversation about basketball:

Did you watch the NBA game last night?

Whose side are you? Lakers or Celtics?

B is also for Bus stops…while in a bus stops you can use the following conversation starters:

I didn’t think it would be so busy today.

You look like you’ve got your hands full (with children or goods).

The bus must be running late today.

It looks like we are going to be here a while, huh?

I’ll have to remember not to come here on Mondays.

How long have you been waiting?

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Rad

Jillian Zavitz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:06:42 +0000

rad: Short for radiator in a car or home heating, but pronounced like the first syllable of ‘radical’.

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Kraft Dinner

Jillian Zavitz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:05:51 +0000

Kraft Dinner: Kraft macaroni and cheese. Sometimes called “Krap Dinner” or “KD”. Common food for both university students and kids.

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Pop

Jillian Zavitz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:05:22 +0000

pop: the common name for soft drinks or soda pop.

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Pickerel

Jillian Zavitz — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:27:54 +0000

Pickerel: This is a slang word for walleye — a type of fish

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Pencil Crayon

Jillian Zavitz — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:27:20 +0000

Pencil Crayon: coloured pencil used for colouring

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Parkade

Jillian Zavitz — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:26:27 +0000

Parkade: a parking garage with different floors

So you think you are Canadian eh???—Nanaimo bar

Jillian Zavitz — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:25:28 +0000

Nanaimo bar: a confection named for the town of Nanaimo, British Columbia and made of egg custard with a Graham-cracker-based bottom and a thin layer of chocolate on top; however, this term is now widespread in the United States and elsewhere, because of Starbucks.

So you think you are Canadian eh???—lumber jacket

Jillian Zavitz — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:24:21 +0000

lumber jacket: known as doeskin in British, this is a thick flannel jackeolett either red and black or green and black preferred by blue collar workers and heavy metal/grunge aficionados. This apparel is more commonly referred to as a mackinac (pron mackinaw).